Santa Ana to Fire Officer in Theft Case : Law enforcement: Suspect has 10 days to appeal. Police say ‘a lot’ of cash was stolen from detainees.

A police officer who is suspected of stealing money from detained suspects and faces a possible charge of grand theft has been notified that the department plans to fire him, police said Wednesday.

Officer William T. Cleary, 27, has 10 days to appeal the decision by requesting a hearing before Police Chief Paul M. Walters. If he does not file an appeal, he will promptly be fired, Police Lt. Robert Helton said.

Meanwhile, police submitted reports of their investigation to the district attorney’s office Monday. They are seeking to charge Cleary with one count of grand theft, Helton said. He described the amount stolen as “a lot of money,” but refused to state the exact figure.

“When something like this happens, it’s a tragedy,” Chief Walters said Wednesday. “It’s very difficult when someone who is sworn to uphold the law is accused of breaking the law. It’s difficult to understand, and I guess you just come to the human-being factor.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. John D. Conley said his office was waiting to receive additional information from the Police Department before making a decision on the case.

Sgt. Don Blankenship, president of the Santa Ana Police Officers Assn., which represents rank-and-file officers, predicted that once the papers are received, the district attorney would file charges.

“I do not imagine this case is going to drag on, especially since the Police Department initiated the paperwork that went to the district attorney,” he said.

Both Blankenship and Helton said they could not recall a similar case against a Santa Ana police officer in the last 20 years.

Helton said Cleary, a two-year member of the department, was arrested Jan. 23 after he was caught stealing money from an undercover officer who was posing as a suspect. The sting operation was devised after the department was unable to substantiate two earlier accusations of theft against him, Helton said.

Cleary was released later that day and remains on paid administrative leave.

“He had a lot of friends,” Helton said. “He had a good record with us, and I can tell you that a lot of officers are distraught over this.”

The investigation of Cleary began last November. At that time, two people had accused Cleary of stealing their money while holding them in custody, Helton said.

The department investigated the charges but was unable to find sufficient evidence, Helton said. Determined to uncover any misconduct, the department set up the undercover sting operation, he said.

Last Thursday evening, Cleary encountered an undercover officer who was carrying a large amount of money. Cleary took a substantial amount of the money, which investigators later found in his possession, Helton said.

Before coming to Orange County, Cleary worked for almost two years at the Vernon Police Department in Los Angeles County. His personnel records there showed no citizen complaints or allegations of impropriety, a Vernon police spokesman said.

Cleary is the son of Charlotte Cleary, a prominent Republican activist and a member of the Orange County Fair Board, a fair spokesman said Wednesday. Charlotte Cleary, of Villa Park, served as co-chairwoman in Orange County for George Bush’s 1988 presidential campaign.

Times staff writer Bill Billiter contributed to this report.